Core Viewpoint - The legal battle between Suoteng Juchuang and Lingming Photon over intellectual property rights in the lidar industry has intensified, focusing on the SPAD-SoC chip technology, which is considered the "digital heart" of lidar systems [1][3][22]. Group 1: Legal Dispute Overview - Suoteng Juchuang filed a lawsuit against Lingming Photon for alleged unfair competition and infringement of its self-developed SPAD chip technology [4][5]. - Lingming Photon countered by claiming that Suoteng Juchuang's E1 series products infringe on its invention patents and has initiated its own legal action [7][9]. - The dispute has escalated with both companies making strong statements and filing multiple lawsuits against each other, indicating a fierce legal confrontation [10][12]. Group 2: Background of the Companies - Suoteng Juchuang and Lingming Photon were once close partners, with Suoteng providing significant support to Lingming during its early days [14][15]. - Their collaboration aimed to develop SPAD-SoC technology, but it ended in early 2023 due to unsatisfactory trial performance of their joint development [16][19]. - Following the termination of their partnership, both companies quickly announced their respective technological advancements, raising suspicions about the sharing of proprietary information [21]. Group 3: Industry Context - The lidar industry is experiencing rapid growth, with the market size in China projected to reach approximately 431.8 billion yuan by 2026 [22]. - The competition has shifted towards chip technology, with companies recognizing the necessity of mastering core technologies to maintain a competitive edge [23][25]. - SPAD technology, particularly in the SPAD-SoC domain, is critical for lidar applications, and the successful mass production of such chips is seen as a significant achievement in the industry [24].

Core Viewpoint - The legal battle between Suoteng Juchuang and Lingming Photon over intellectual property rights has intensified, focusing on the SPAD-SoC chip technology, which is considered the "digital heart" of LiDAR systems [1][2][3]. Group 1: Legal Dispute Overview - Suoteng Juchuang filed a lawsuit against Lingming Photon for alleged unfair competition and infringement of its self-developed SPAD chip technology [4][5]. - Lingming Photon countered by claiming that Suoteng Juchuang's E1 series products infringe on its invention patents, leading to a series of legal actions from both parties [1][6]. - The dispute highlights the competitive landscape of the LiDAR industry, where chip technology is recognized as a core competitive advantage [3][20]. Group 2: Background of the Companies - Suoteng Juchuang and Lingming Photon previously had a collaborative relationship, with Suoteng providing support to Lingming during its early stages [13][14]. - The partnership aimed to develop SPAD-SoC technology, but it ended due to unsatisfactory results from joint development efforts [14][17]. - Following the termination of their collaboration, both companies quickly announced their respective technological advancements, raising suspicions about potential knowledge transfer [3][17]. Group 3: Market Context and Implications - The Chinese LiDAR market is projected to grow significantly, with estimates of approximately 75.9 billion yuan in 2023 and expected to reach 431.8 billion yuan by 2026 [20][21]. - The competition in the LiDAR industry emphasizes the importance of chip technology, with companies needing to enhance their technological capabilities and maintain control over core technologies [22][24]. - SPAD technology, particularly in the SPAD-SoC domain, is critical for LiDAR applications, with significant market growth anticipated in the coming years [22][23].

Core Viewpoint - The domestic lidar industry is experiencing an escalation in patent disputes, with Shenzhen Lingming Photon Technology Co., Ltd. filing a countersuit against Suoteng Juchuang for patent infringement, marking a shift from one-sided accusations to mutual litigation [2][3][4]. Group 1: Legal Disputes - Lingming Photon has accused Suoteng Juchuang of infringing on its invention patents related to the E1 series products, including E1R and E1P [2][3]. - The legal battle is characterized as the "first case of SPAD chip" in the lidar industry, highlighting the intensifying competition and the importance of intellectual property rights [2][4]. - Suoteng Juchuang has responded by asserting that Lingming Photon has not provided substantial evidence regarding the core accusations of technology theft and has initiated its own lawsuits for alleged infringement of its technical secrets [4][5]. Group 2: Market Impact - The ongoing litigation has put pressure on Suoteng Juchuang's stock price, which closed at HKD 36.14 per share on December 18, with a total market capitalization of approximately HKD 17.07 billion [2]. - The disputes reflect a significant shift in the lidar industry from product integration to competition over foundational chip technologies, particularly SPAD (Single-Photon Avalanche Diode) technology [6][7]. Group 3: Company Backgrounds - Lingming Photon, established in 2018, focuses on the independent research and development of SPAD technology and has applied for over 260 patents, with more than 130 granted [6]. - Suoteng Juchuang is a leading player in the global lidar market, holding a 26% share of the automotive lidar market in 2024, and the E1 series is a strategic product in its transition to solid-state lidar technology [7].

国内激光雷达行业的"专利战"再升级。继本月初速腾聚创（02498.HK）起诉灵明光子窃取商业机密 后，12月17日，深圳市灵明光子科技有限公司（下称"灵明光子"）发起反诉，宣布正式向深圳市中级人 民法院起诉速腾聚创侵犯其发明专利权。 在声明中，灵明光子称速腾聚创公司（02498.HK）E1系列，包括但不限于E1R、E1P等产品涉嫌侵犯其 发明专利权。灵明光子表示公司尊重并致力于保护知识产权，此次行动旨在依法维护自身的创新成果与 合法权益。 这标志着这场被称为激光雷达行业"SPAD 芯片第一案"的纠纷，已从单向指控演变为双方互诉的胶着 战。受市场竞争加剧及诉讼消息影响，速腾聚创股价近期承压，12月17日，盘中最低跌至35.6港元/ 股。截至12月17日收盘，报36.16港元/股，微涨0.72%，总市值约170.7亿港元。 灵明光子消息人士：不排除追加起诉 事件的导火索可以追溯到本月初。12月1日，市场传出速腾聚创在11月以"涉嫌侵犯自研SPAD芯片相关 技术秘密"为由，向广东省深圳市中级人民法院提交了起诉灵明光子的立案申请，指控这家曾经的合作 伙伴在合作终止后迅速推出了技术路径相似的芯片产品，涉嫌不正当竞争。 ...